Here is one for ethics professors. In episode 60 we reported on the OpenNet Initiative and the Internet filtering map. The map shows those countries that carry out the most extensive internet censorship and surveillance. Now Amnesty International in a recent conference is arguing that "censorship is a "virus" affecting the health of the Internet" (ars technica). AI "reserves particular criticism for the firms—often American—that go along with censorship or actively contribute to it," notably Yahoo, Microsoft, and Google in their dealings in China. On the other hand, AI DOES support censorship of "hate speech" and sites that encourage race hatred, violence, and child pornography. The US does not censor hate speech, but does censor Internet gambling by organizations other than the state. Where does right lie? Or left or libertarian, for that matter.
